Alcoholism, Prescription Drugs, And A Sedentary Lifestyle

[naomi24]

An almost totally reclusive, overweight 66 year old woman who has never suffered a serious physical illness, taking prescription drugs (for the past 40 years) for panic attacks, drinking a bottle of vodka a day, and rarely moving from a lying position on the sofa. How long do you think that can continue before it has serious repercussions upon her physical health?

[woofgang]

sorry hypgnosis but I haven’t seen anything in naomi’s sad story to make me think that this lady can or should be sectioned. She is making some very sad and unusual choices but that doesn’t mean that she should not be allowed to make them.

[Hypognosis]

@woofgang

Well, naomi spared us a lot of what I now consider to be salient detail, in her opening post but the question needed to be straightforward:-

//How long do you think that can continue before it has serious repercussions upon her physical health?//

A bottle of vodka per day, no physical exercise and precious little social contact, not even with family. How long do you think she can continue this before this kills her?

I'm no expert but sectioning is for when there is a risk of the afflicted person harming themself or others. I class premature death via liver failure as the level of harm referred to.

I wrote previously about how habitual drinkers develop tolerance (eg when young) and I tried to convey that ageing reduces the liver's self-repair ability, so heavy drinking starts becoming damaging. The trouble, then, is that outward symptoms do not begin to appear until the organ is 3/4 gone.

I'm sure you would not take a non-intervention route with a person about to jump from a height. I see little difference, here.

[woofgang]

This is not about what you or I would do but about what a mental health professional would do. I don’t know what I would do in the case of a jumper.....I suspect I would try to persuade them not to jump but not try and forcibly restrain them which is a risky business. People who genuinely want to commit suicide by whatever means will eventually succeed unless confined and closely monitored. Sad but true.
My experience (community work in care of older people) is that people who have an alcohol issue are not sectioned unless its making them dangerously aggressive, a risk to public health, or causing them to steal to support their habit. To be brutally frank, its because there is not a lot of point. Someone who abuses alcohol has to want to get better in order to stand a chance of stopping and, even then, the wanting to stop may not be enough. Someone who is not invested in stopping will find a way to drink if not permanently detained and monitored. My experience is that while its possible, they are maintained in their own homes and when they become too unwell for that, then they move to appropriate care......and believe me I have seen a few, both men, women and couples.
People who deal with the sectioning of adults tend to be pragmatic....One of the things that they will consider is “what would be the point” ie will sectioning and what could be done for the person while under section effect any permanent or even long term improvement in the situation?
In this case I think you will agree that the answer would be no. It won’t help the person concerned, won’t help her family...in fact won’t achieve anything....

[ummmm]

Completely agree, Woof.

You simply can't section someone for abusing a legal drug. Isolating yourself is not uncommon. Some people simply don't need the interaction that others do.

She might feel a little lonely but facebook seems to be filling that gap.

The fact is...she might be happy with the numbness alcohol gives her and chatting to strangers on line. Strangers on line don't put pressure on you to be sociable.

[Hypognosis]

@woofgang

Well, I'm pleased to hear that a "what would be the point" attitude is prevalent, when it comes to sectioning. That's my attitude to many aspects of life. (oops, thought Police!)


Loius Theroux programme, 9:00pm, BBC2, tonight. Not sure if I'll watch, myself but it's there for anyone following this thread.

[ummmm]

Hypo....there is already a lack of places in psychiatric units. We can't section everyone who depends on alcohol.

[Hypognosis]

@ummmm

//Hypo....there is already a lack of places in psychiatric units. //

As an outpatient, 10-15 years ago, the most I was allowed was 1 hour of having someone listen to me per 6 months. I reckon I needed 8-10 hours to get to the root of it but I dragged myself back to work before that ever came about.

//We can't section everyone who depends on alcohol. //

Given the above, I am painfully aware of this problem.

Rhetorically, I did ask my therapist whether they ever got the chance to listen to 'normal' people and their problems. Other than a wry smile, she said nothing.

[naomi24]

This lady has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember but it occurred to me today that I will probably never see her again - a thought that saddens me greatly. Thanks to all for your input here. It's been interesting - and therapeutic. x

[Mamyalynne]

I think the hardest thing we ever have to do in life comes with the realisation we can do nothing to alter the situation - heartbreaking but true.

[ladybirder]

That's so sad Naomi. I am very sorry to hear it.
I was very moved by Louis Theroux's programme last night on alcoholism. Helped me to understand something of which I don't have any experience.

[naomi24]

Mamyalynne, that, I can with some degree of difficulty, reconcile when the cause is genuinely hopeless, as for instance in the case of terminal illness, but this is so futile. Such a waste of Life. Nevertheless, hopelessness is what I'm am reluctantly reduced to.

[naomi24]

ladybirder, I recorded that and watched a few minutes of it. Not sure I can watch the rest - but I'll give it another go.

[Mamyalynne]

I too watched that programme and it was very moving, it took me back to my twenties when despite all a tight group of friends did for one of our pals, drugs took him - we did everything both within the law and sometimes outside it.

The feeling of helplessness is overwhelming for those who stand by and watch self destruction.

[naomi24]

It is indeed.

[ladybirder]

Naomi does the doctor actually see her or does he/she just dole out repeat prescriptions?

[naomi24]

She sees the GP regularly because she's on medication for high cholesterol and high blood pressure, and he used to dole out prescriptions for her panic attacks regularly, but since he realised - at long last - that she needs more specialised help, the psychiatric team he passed her to medicate. They changed her prescription but she's not happy so all of that is rather up in the air at the moment.

[ladybirder]

I hope the psychiatric team can help her, despite herself, soon, if she'll let them. I also hope her poor husband is having some kind of life and having visitors himself and getting out and about some of the time. Wish there was something positive to say. Sorry.

[naomi24]

ladybirder, her husband does go out now - I think he's resigned to the fact that this is the way she wants to live and it isn't going to change. He told me yesterday he is watching her 'fade away'. Anyway, thanks to you and to everyone else for your kind words. I appreciate it. x